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Background The use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in diabetic wounds has been studied extensively. Even though venous insufficiency is the most common cause of lower limb ulceration, there is comparatively little evidence regarding the use of HBOT for Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU). We performed a systematic-review to evaluate and synthesise available evidence, to evaluate whether patients with VLU, when treated with HBOT, had greater rates of (i) complete VLU healing or (ii) reduction in VLU area, than controls. Methods In keeping with PRISMA guidelines, database searches of PubMed, Scopus and Embase was performed. After removal of duplicates, titles were screened for relevance by two authors, then abstracts, and in turn full text manuscripts. Data were extracted from relevant sources including one published abstract. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB-2) and Risk Of Bias In Nonrandomized Studies (ROBINS-I) tools. Results Six studies were included. There was significant heterogeneity across the studies, with no standard control intervention, method of outcome reporting, or duration of follow up. Two studies reported 12 week follow up results and pooled analysis of complete ulcer healing showed no statistically significant difference between HBOT and controls for the outcome of complete ulcer healing OR 1.54 (95%CI = .50-4.75) P = .4478. A similar non-signifiacnt result was seen in four studies reporting 5-6 week follow up; OR 5.39 (95%CI = .57-259.57) P = .1136. Change in VLU area was reported in all studies, and pooled standardised mean difference was 1.70 (95%CI = .60 to 2.79) P = .0024, indicating a statistically significant benefit of HBOT in reducing ulcer area. Conclusion Existing evidence suggests that HBOT does not significantly affect complete healing of VLU. There is a statistically significant benefit in terms of reducing ulcer size, though in the absence of ulcer healing the clinical significance of this is not established. Current evidence does not justify widespread use of HBOT for VLU.

Patients with end-stage renal disease should have arteriovenous fistula (AVF) formation 3 to 6 months prior to commencing hemodialysis (HD). However, this is not always possible with strained health care resources. We aim to compare autologous proximal AVF (PAVF) with distal AVF (DAVF) in patients already on HD. Primary end point is 4-year functional primary. Secondary end point is freedom from major adverse clinical events (MACEs). From January 2003 to June 2009, out of 495 AVF formations, 179 (36%) patients were already on HD. These patients had 200 AVF formations (49 DAVF vs 151 PAVF) in arms in which no previous fistula had been formed. No synthetic graft was used. Four-year primary functional patency significantly improved with PAVF (68.9% ± SD 8.8%) compared to DAVF (7.3% ± SD 4.9%; P < .0001). Five-year freedom from MACE was 85% with PAVF compared to 40% with DAVF ( P < .005). Proximal AVF bestows long-term functional access with fewer complications compared to DAVF for patients already on HD.

This case represents the first report of multiple arterial aneurysms including aortic, iliac, visceral, and coronary aneurysms associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome. It presents an interesting case of epinephrine abuse and the unfortunate sequelae. This case illustrates novel approaches in emergency repair of internal iliac artery aneurysm rupture and the management of visceral artery aneurysms and exemplifies how multiple endovascular technologies can be utilized even in the high-risk polymorbid patient.

Introduction: Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), who are unsuitable for intervention, face the consequence of primary amputation. Sequential compression biomechanical device (SCBD) therapy provides a limb salvage option for these patients. Objectives: To assess the outcome of SCBD in patients with severe CLI who are unsuitable for revascularization. Primary end points were limb salvage and 30-day mortality. Methods: From 2005 to 2012, 189 patients with severe CLI were not suitable for revascularization. In all, 171 joined the SCBD program. We match controlled 75 primary amputations. Results: All patients were Rutherford category 4 or higher. Sustained clinical improvement was 68% at 1 year. Mean toe pressure increased from 19.9 to 35.42 mm Hg, P < .0001. Mean popliteal flow increased from 35.44 to 55.91 cm/sec, P < .0001. The 30-day mortality was 0.6%. Limb salvage was 94% at 5 years. Freedom from major adverse clinical events was 62.5%. All-cause survival was 69%. Median cost of managing a primary amputation patient is €29 815 compared to €3985 for SCBD. We treated 171 patients with artassist at a cost of €681 965. However, primary amputation for 75 patients cost €2 236 125. Conclusion: The SCBD therapy is a cost-effective and clinically effective solution in patients with CLI having no option of revascularization. It provides adequate limb salvage while providing relief of rest pain without any intervention.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the predictive value of the Lee revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) for a standard vascular intensive care unit (ICU) population as well as assessing the utility of transthoracic echocardiography and the impact of prior coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary revascularization on patient outcome. Design: This is a retrospective review of prospectively maintained Vascubase and prospectively collected ICU data. Materials and Methods: Data from 363 consecutive vascular ICU admissions were collected. Findings were used to calculate the RCRI, which was then correlated with patient outcomes. All patients were on optimal medical therapy (OMT) in the form of cardioselective β-blocker, aspirin, statin, and folic acid. Results: There was no relationship found between a reduced ejection fraction and patient outcome. Mortality was significantly increased for patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as identified on echo (14.9% vs 6.5%, P = .028). The overall complication rates were significantly elevated for patients with valvular dysfunction. Discrimination for the RCRI on receiver–operating characteristic analysis was poor, with an area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve of .621. Model calibration was reasonable with an Hosmer-Lemeshow Ĉ statistic of 2.726 ( P = .256). Of those with known CAD, 41.22% of the patients receiving best medical treatment developed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to 35.3% of those who previously underwent percutaneous cardiac intervention and 23.5% of those who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. There was 3-fold increase in major adverse clinical events in patients with troponin rise and LVH. Conclusions: The RCRI’s discriminatory capacity is low, and this raises difficulties in assessing cardiac risk in patients undergoing vascular intervention. The AMI is highest in the OMT group without prior cardiac intervention, which mandates protocols to identify patients requiring cardiac intervention prior to vascular procedures.

We aim to review an 8-year experience of median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) with chronic gastrointestinal ischemia (CGI) and evaluate clinical outcomes of arcuate ligament decompression, celiac sympathectomy, and selective revascularization. Between December 2002 and March 2012, of 25 patients referred with symptoms of CGI, 11 patients (10 women and 1 man) had clinical signs of abdominal angina and radiological evidence of MALS. Mean age was 50 ± 20.4 years. Median symptom duration was 34 months. All patients had median arcuate decompression and celiac sympathectomy. In all, 8 did not require revascularization, 2 had retrograde celiac and/or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenting, and 1 had SMA bypass. There was no mortality. The 30-day morbidity was 9%. Mean follow-up was 60 months. Eight patients noted complete relief of abdominal pain, and 1 reported some improvement. The MALS is not solely a vascular compression syndrome. The neurological component requires careful celiac plexus sympathectomy in addition to arcuate ligament decompression.

We aim to compare cool excimer laser-assisted angioplasty (CELA) versus tibial balloon angioplasty (TBA) in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) with tibial artery occlusive disease. The primary end point is sustained clinical improvement (SCI) and amputation-free survival (AFS). The secondary end points are binary restenosis, target extremity revascularization (TER), and cost-effectiveness. From June 2005 to October 2010, 1506 patients were referred with peripheral vascular disease and 572 with CLI. A total of 80 patients underwent 89 endovascular revascularizations (EVRs) for tibial occlusions, 47 using TBA and 42 using CELA. All patients were Rutherford category 4 to 6. Three-year SCI was enhanced with CELA (81%) compared to TBA (63.8%; P = .013). Three-year AFS significantly improved with CELA (95.2%) versus TBA (89.4%; P = .0165). Three-year freedom from TER was significantly improved with CELA (92.9%) versus 78.7% TBA ( P = .026). Three-year freedom from MACE was comparable in both the groups ( P = .455). Patients with CELA had significantly improved quality time without symptoms of disease or toxicity of treatment (Q-TWiST) at 3 years (10.5 months; P = .048) with incremental cost of €2073.19 per quality-adjusted life year gained. Tibial EVR provides exceptional outcome in CLI. The CELA has superior SCI, AFS, and freedom from TER, with improved Q-TWiST and cost-effectiveness.

Topical wound oxygen (TWO2) proposes an option in the management of refractory nonhealing venous ulcers (RVUs). End points are proportion of ulcers healed at 12 weeks, recurrence rates, reduction in ulcer size, and time to full healing. A total of 67 patients with RVU were managed using TWO2 and 65 patients with conventional compression dressings (CCDs) for 12 weeks or till full healing. Mean reduction in ulcer surface area at 12 weeks was 96% in patients managed with TWO2 and 61% in patients managed with CCD. At 12 weeks, 76% of the TWO2-managed ulcers had completely healed, compared to 46% of the CCD-managed ulcers ( P < .0001). Median time to full healing was 57 days in patients managed with TWO2 and 107 days in patients managed with CCD ( P< .0001). After 36 months follow-up, 14 of the 30 healed CCD ulcers showed recurrence compared to 3 of the 51 TWO2-healed ulcers. The TWO2 is effective and valuable in managing RVU. The TWO2 slashes the time required for RVU healing and radically decreases the recurrence rates.

Introduction: To evaluate supraclavicular scalenectomy ± cervical rib excision for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), employing Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scoring for functional assessment post-decompression. Methods: A QuickDASH score was calculated for each patient using the algorithm: ([sum of responses/n] − 1) × 25, where n = number of completed responses. Nonparametric analysis was employed, with significance defined as P ≤ .05. Results: Twenty-one patients were treated for TOS by the same surgeon; with 5 bilateral procedures (total = 26 procedures). Median DASH scores pre- and postoperatively were 68.5 and 36.0, respectively ( P = .002). Just one reported worsening of symptoms postoperatively. Antecedent trauma and smoking were inversely associated with DASH score postoperatively ( P = .005 and P = .005). Postoperative scores were less for patients with vascular symptoms ( P = .011); scores did not change significantly for those with neurologic ( P = .066) or mixed symptoms ( P = .345). Conclusions: This study reconfirmed the value of supraclavicular approach for TOS, with the vast majority reporting subjective improvement.

The use of the Continuous AutoTransfusion System (C.A.T.S; Fresenius Hemotechnology, Bad Homburg v.d.H., Germany), which conserves allogenic blood, is reported in 187 patients having abdominal aortic aneurysm repair during a 9-year period. Patients were allocated to C.A.T.S if a Haemovigilance technician was available. A mean of 685 mL of retrieved blood was reinfused in 101 patients receiving C.A.T.S; 61% required 2 U or less. All control patients required 3 U or more of allogenic blood. Allogenic transfusion in C.A.T.S patients decreased significantly ( P < .0001). Mean intensive care unit stay was significantly reduced in C.A.T.S patients ( P = .042). Mean postoperative hospital stay was 18 days for C.A.T.S group and 25 days in control patients ( P = .014). The respective 30-day mortality was 12% versus 19% ( P = .199). The C.A.T.S markedly reduced the amount of blood transfused, was associated with reduced intensive care unit and postoperative hospital stay, and was cost-effective.